Petersen bound over in Waushara County beating death

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A Wautoma man accused of beating a man to death in a Mount Morris motel last month will stand trial.

After three hours of testimony Friday, Waushara County Circuit Court Judge Guy Dutcher found probable cause existed to bind Travis L. Peteresen, 42, over on a charge of first-degree intentional homicide in connection to the death of Robert J. Kasun, 50.

Kasun was found dead in a room at the Mount Morris Hotel, N3745 State Road 152, in the town of Mount Morris on March 6. Kasun's body was laying in food debris on the floor.

Dr. Michael Stier, a forensic pathologist and associate professor at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, said Kasun died of blunt force trauma to his head, chest and abdomen and the injuries were consistent with trauma caused by fists or forearms.

During the investigation, Special Agent Jay Yerges, with the state's Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, said he spoke with Petersen on four occasions March 6. Petersen said he had been drinking some beers with Kasun in Kasun's room on March 5, but left when he received a phone call at 3:30 p.m.

When investigators examined Kasun's room, the found blood on the kitchen and bathroom floors, the ceiling and wall, said Special Agent Kevin Heimerl, with the DCI.

During additional investigation by the State Crime Lab, agents used chemicals that react with blood that revealed a series of bloody footprints in Petersen's room. They also found a blood splatter on a welcome mat.

"Robert Kasun's blood was found on the rug in Travis Petersen's home," Heimerl said.